As the hours ticked by, Ascelin found himself trapped in the suffocating darkness of the hole, cradling the barely alive woman. The morning sun gradually illuminated the opening near their feet, signaling the start of a new day. The familiar sounds of a waking town filled the air - roosters crowing, animals braying and clucking, and the bustling activities of the townspeople going about their daily routines. Despite the seemingly short duration of an earthly day compared to the realm of the goddess, each passing moment felt interminable for Ascelin.
As twilight enveloped the surroundings, a hushed stillness settled in. The only sound that reached Ascelin's ears was the faint whisper of the woman's fading heartbeat. Even that grew fainter until it ceased completely. A wave of grief washed
